Frequently Asked Questions
Presenters
My paper has been accepted, what do I do next?
Congratulations on having your paper accepted into the programme! You now need to register and pay for your place by going to our registration page.
You need to book by Monday, 7 December 2026. We will be strictly enforcing this deadline. If you have not registered by this date, your paper will be withdrawn from the programme and the slot will be offered to someone on the reserve list.
What date and time is my presentation?
Your acceptance email will tell you the day and time of your presentation.
Alternatively, you can log in to MyBSA and go to 'Abstract Submission Details'.
Any changes to your presentation day or time will be communicated to you by email.
How long is my presentation?
Your acceptance email will tell you the mode of presentation and the stream you have been allocated. Please note, this may be different to those you selected on submission.
Are there any presentation guidelines?
Here are the guidelines for each presentation mode:
- Oral
- There will be up to 4 presenters in each session, and each paper session is 90 minutes
- Each presenter will be allocated a 20-minute slot: 15 minutes presentation time and 5 minutes for questions
- There will be a laptop/computer and screen in every room for you to present from
- A chair will be allocated to each session
- Posters
- Posters will be displayed in The Drum, University Place
- Your poster should be in place at least 1 hour before the dedicated poster presentation session (Wednesday, 31 March 18:15) and then remain in place for the duration of the conference
- Your poster will not be displayed if you are not at the conference
- Posters should be A1 landscape (594mm x 841mm)
- We will provide a display board and Velcro strips for you to display your poster
- You are responsible for printing and displaying your poster, and removing it after the conference
- Any posters left at the end of the conference will be disposed of
- Roundtable
- There will be up to 4 presenters at each roundtable, and each roundtable session is 90 minutes
- Each presenter will be allocated a 20-minute slot: 15 minutes presentation time and 5 minutes for questions
- Each table will have a chair
- There is no AV or electronic equipment available
- Special Events
- Special Events are 90 minutes
- Special Events may include visual displays, symposia, panels, workshops, roundtable discussions and many more
- There will be a laptop/computer and screen in every room for you to present from if you wish
- Organisers for each special event are responsible for sourcing a chair
Does my co-author or co-presenter need to register? Will co-authors/co-presenters be listed in the programme?
Yes, anyone wanting to attend the conference will need to register, including any co-authors or co-presenters.
Co-authors will not be listed in the programme grid due to limited space, however they will be listed in the abstract book in the order they are listed in your submission
Please note all official conference communications regarding your abstract will be directed to the named presenter of the abstract (ie. the person the abstract was submitted by). We aren’t able to contact co-authors, co-presenters or other contributors individually, so please do keep your colleagues informed of any important updates and share any future details they may need to know.
I have been put on the Reserve list. When will I know if my paper is accepted into the programme?
Slots become available on the reserve list as people withdraw their papers for various reasons, and after the booking deadline has passed.
As the programme is constantly changing due to these reasons, we are unable to give you a timescale but we anticipate this being before the end of December 2026.
If you reach a point where you would no longer be able to attend the conference, please withdraw your paper as below, so we can offer the slot to someone on the reserve list.
I can no longer attend the conference, what do I need to do?
You can withdraw your paper by logging in to MyBSA and go to 'Abstract Submission Details'. Or, you can email us.
If you have already made your booking and need to cancel, go to 'Booking Summary' and cancel your booking. Booking Terms & Conditions can be found on our website.
Is the conference hybrid/is there an option to present or attend virtually?
The conference is in-person only. At present, the UK academic venues available to us are not yet equipped to offer hybrid conferencing as standard. This means that, unfortunately, we are unable to offer remote presentation.
If you are unable to attend in person, you will need to withdraw your paper.
Where can I find a copy of the conference programme?
The programme is on our website. Please note that the programme will be updated periodically and the final version will be sent out by email in the final weeks before the conference.
Any changes to your presentation day or time will be communicated to you by email.
Is the conference abstract book published or indexed?
There will be a PDF version of the abstract book available on the BSA website. After the conference, the pdf will be archived.
Please note, the BSA Annual Conference is not indexed by SCOPUS or other citation databases, as their indexing systems are for journals and conference proceedings.
The Abstract Book is not a Conference Proceeding, and we do not publish them, therefore they are not eligible for indexing.
Booking and Payment
How much is my conference registration?
Full details of registration and fees are on our website.
The most cost-effective way to register for the conference is by being a member of the BSA.
If you’re not already a BSA member, you can join online today to access the reduced member rates for all BSA events for 12 months, as well as many more benefits.
We have reciprocal agreements for members of The Australian Sociological Association, British Society of Criminology, Social Policy Association, Sociological Association of Aotearoa (New Zealand). Please contact the BSA Events Team with proof of your membership, to register at the reciprocal agreement rate.
Is there any funding available to help me attend?
For the 2027 conference, we are offering 70 free places to help BSA members who may find it difficult to obtain funding for attendance at our Annual Conference (20 of these places are kindly supported by the main conference sponsor, SAGE).
What does my conference registration include?
Your conference registration includes access for the days you have booked to all of the academic conference sessions, conference programme, daytime catering (refreshments and lunch), and the Publisher’s Reception on Wednesday, 31 March (Day 1 and Full Conference tickets only).
Conference registration does not include breakfast or evening meals.
You need to book and pay for your own travel, accommodation and any other associated costs.
We are in the process of negotiating discounted rates at a range of hotels near the University of Manchester, and full details will be available on our website shortly.
Information on social activities will be sent to you by email.
My institution is paying by invoice, how do I make my booking?
Your institution or organisation need to send a purchase order for the full amount of your booking including your name to the BSA Events Team.
I need to apply for a visa, what do I need to do?
You can contact your local government office or website for information on travel and visas to the UK. If you need an Invitation Letter to assist with your visa application, please email the BSA Events Team and we will send one to you.
As of 8 January 2025, the United Kingdom requires visitors from previously visa-exempt countries - including the United States, Canada, and Australia - to obtain an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) for short stays up to six months. European Union citizens will need an ETA starting 2 April 2025. Please ensure you secure an approved ETA before traveling to the UK to attend the conference.
Venue
All of the conference venue information including, address, directions and accessibility is on our website.
Publishers and Press
Our main conference sponsor is Sage. Sage is a global academic publisher of books, journals, and library resources with a growing range of technologies to enable discovery, access, and engagement. They have also supported funding for 20 of our funded places at the conference.
Can publishers attend?
We have a number of exhibition opportunities at the conference. Please contact Anna-Marie McGlanaghey for information.
Can press attend?
The BSA extends an invitation to the world press.
For further information, please contact the BSA Events Team.